With 21,000 tons exported tuna represents 5% of GDP

ECUADOR: The tuna industry represents 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the country, behind traditional export products such as bananas and shrimp. It is also the main economic activity of Manta, with 114 ships operating from the Manabi port.

The captured and frozen tuna that arrives on board the boats is unloaded at the plant and is classified according to species and size, identifying the source (ship), temperature, salt, and histamine. (Photo: ceipa.com.ec)

In 2018 tuna exports totaled $ 97 million (21,000 tons), representing 20% ​​more than in 2017. Between January and April 2019, the amount is $ 27 million (4,000 tons), according to Foreign Trade. The three main destinations of the Ecuadorian product are the United States, the European Union, and Peru.

Worldwide, 5 million tons are sold, said Ricardo Herrera, vice president of Ceipa. For the director of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (CIAT), Guillermo Compeán, tuna fishing has increased and maintaining this trend depends on the care of the oceans. In that sense, more than 21 nations located on the Eastern Pacific Ocean (OPO) are associated to improve technologies to be more efficient and take care of the environment.